Flexible bound book



F. J. WILKINS.

FLEXIBLE BOUND BOOK.

, 1920. 1938,6949 Patented. June 7, 1921.

"" I K IF. WILKINS,

OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

FLEXIBLE BOUND 1300K.

eas es.

T 0 all whom it may concern J Be it known thatI, FRANK J. WILKINS, a citizen ofthe United States, residin at the city of Cincinnati, in the, county of amilton and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Flexible Bound Books, of whichthe following isaspecification. I

The object of my invention is to produce aflexibly bound book which will be cheaper, more simple, more eflicient and possess a greater degree of utility than books of this character now in use. At present books of this character are usually bound at the back,

by havingholes in the back of the leaves,-

through which pass posts of some character and form and means to hold the leaves and posts together in book form. The leaves and covers of these books 'must usually be long so that they can be creased to open, so that the book will flattenout to some extent when in use; the leaves of my book and the covers therefor may be shorter and need not .be

. creased unless desired, as by my invention I flexibly bind the leaves and covers at the sideedges of the. book, near the back as the holes through the leaves at the back of the book are dispensed with.

In carrying out my invention I cut recesses at, each side of the leaves, near their rear edges; and onto these recessed edges I place springs held at the top and bottom cover edge of the book by clamps or clips. If it is desired to reach any of the leaves for removal,

or to place a new leaf into the book, or to replace an old leaf which has been temporarily removed, the spring binding element can be R released by pulling off the holding clips at one side and inserting the leaf, or both side clips may be pulled off and the leaf inserted and then the clips can be put back into position. Its various-features and advantages w llreadily become apparent from the following specification.

In the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification,

Figure 1, is an isometric view ofthe flexibly bound book,

' and Fig. 2, is an end View of the flexibly bound book'shown in Fig. 1, and partly opened up,

Fig. 3, is a view of one of the spring clamps, partly in section on line 3 -3 of Fig.

1,'and a part of one of the binding springs. The bookeovers a e marked. 1 aHdZand Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June "3, 1921.

Application filed January 15, 1920. Serial No. 351,549.

the leaves are marked3; each leaf is recessed at each rear side, near the back edge, at 4.

In the present instance the covers 1 and 2 are creased at 6, but such creases need not be used unless desired.

The recesses '4 may be of any size and contour and when they are placed into the book to form the same, they lie in juxtaposition in order to be properly bound together.

At each corner of the book, near the rear edge, I attach spring clips or clamps formed of plate part 7, partly extended beyond the back edge to form finger hold 8, and also bent over to form a spring part 9, the upwardly bent part 9 atits turning point beingmarked 10 and the part 9 is flared upwardly at its edge 12, so that the clip can more readily be slipped onto the book covers 1 and 2. The hand holds 8 are cut out of the metal which forms the clamp or clip and are in the form of an outwardly extending tongue, which forms said finger hold. Where the metal is cut away-to form these tongues or hand holds 8, I place on each clip or clamp a short tube or hollow post'13; into these posts, I put the ends of a coiled spring 14, by forcing said ends into the same, in which position they are held until removed by human agency. I

-. In binding the book the spring 14 is placed in the row of recesses 4 and the clips fastened to the back side edges of the covers, to which they will tightly clamp. When the book is opened the spiral spring 14 will conform to the contour or shape assumed bythe book leaves when opened to any particular page (see Fig. 2) and when the book is closed, the

spring will assume normal position. The

book can be opened toany page desired and the springs will bend, acting as flexible binding means.

t will be readily apparent that the bind ing springs and clips can be quickly put into position and quickly removed. Any length of springs may be used, so that if the book, which has been flexiblybound, becomes too thin or on the other hand becomes too thick, on account of the removal of a large number of leaves, or on account of the addition of too many leaves, shorter or longer springs" thereof may be recessed and springs and clamps used, the same as shown herein in connection with leaves.

I may use any kind of a spring or flexible binding means in connection with the cover clips or clamps. v c

While I have described one particular form of carrying my invention into effect, it Will be understood that the same may be somewhat modified Without departing from the spirit and principle of my invention.

What I claim as new and my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a book of the character described,

memes covers and leaves therefor, the leaves pro-- 15 vided with recesses at their rear side edges, a spring for fitting into said recesses, and clips for holding said springs onto the covers.

2. In a book of the character described, covers and leaves therefor, the leaves provided With recesses at their rear side edges,\a spring for fitting into said recesses, and clips 7 for holding said springs removably connected to said covers.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature at Cincinnati, Ohio, this 5th day of January, 1920.

FRANK J. WILKINS. 

